Mavis Staples

Andrew Shield is barely 16 years old, but he already works the stage as if he owns it. Shield, who has been a regular lately at local 1950s rock-and-roll revival shows, took the top prize in last weekend's Williamsburg's Got Talent contest at the Kimball Theatre.

I served as one of the judges, along with musician and band director Everett Collins and dance instructor Denise Ridley-Johnston, and we all had the same impression of Shield. He gave a confident, powerful solo performance of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," but he truly wrapped up first place about two-thirds of the way through — when he used a foot pedal to put his guitar on a loop, and then reached into...

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